When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” (Acts 2:1-11, CEB)
This passage actually says two different things.
It says that those gathered were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages. And it says that the crowd heard those speaking, but heard it in their own language. So what really happened? Did people speak in languages they did not know? Did people hear in languages they did not know, but somehow it was translated to their own language, so they understood it? Yes. Both of those happened.
And on top of that, there were flames on their heads.
What a day!
Can you imagine if we all understood each other and worked together for the betterment of the world?
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the people and kindle in us the fire of your love!
aSacredRebel 